Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-03-19
State News.

Ground has been broken in Par
kersburg for two marble front build
ings
Eleven miles of track have been
laid on its extension of the Grafton
and Greenbriar railroad.
Parkersburg gentlemen are getting
up permanent Fair Association, and
will soon apply for charter.
A woman living in Monongalia
county recently drank quart ofap
ple-jack. She left a husband ard
six children.
The long.lived law suit of the
Chase Organ Go. against the steam-
er Emma Graham, which has been
in the Wood county courts for over
90 years, was tried and decided in
favor of the boat.
Moorefeld and South Fork dis
tricts in Hardy county voted, a few
days ago, on she question ofsub-
scribing to the stock of the propos-
ed railroad from Mooretield to Key
ser or Cumberland. The vote stood
400 for subscription and Al against
Jesse Lemon, of Gilmer county,
blew his brains out few days ago.
He took his rifle and going out in
the woods, cut chestnut switch
about five feet long, with a prong at
one end. Resting the butt Of his
rifle on the ground and the muzzle
against his chin Lemons pulled the
trigger with the pronged switch, and
fell dead.
Last Monday at the Cunningham
House, Petersburg, Grant county,
two English sparrows engaged in a
Sullivan contest, and when one of
them was knocked out, he deliberat
ely went to the gable end Of the hotel
and hanged himself to one of the pro-
jecting boards, by thrusting his neck
into split in the board.
Last Saturday evening, Mr.. James
l.. Brock. residing near Rivesville,
Monongolia county, while returning
home with his little son on horse
back, came to the ford at the mouth
of Parker's run, about mile below
Rivesville, and finding the stream
very high, he decided to set the boy
down and try the ford alone to see
if it could be crossed safely. He
had ridden about half way across,
when his horse took fright, became
manageable and got into the deep
water below the ford, Mr.. Brock
was swept from the animals back,
and struggled to reach the shore,
but numbed by cold and weighted
with heavy clothing, he soon sank
exhausted and was drowned Mr.
Elisha West was on the opposite side
of the stream and witnessed the oc-
currence, but was powerless to aid
the drowning man. The body was
recovered about two hours after
ward.
Judging from the investments Of
Northern capitalists in the coal and
timber lands of the Kanawha valley,
and from the projected through and
short lines Of railroad, which will be
under construction next summer, the
prospects for the valley were never
so fair as at present West Virginia
resources are claiming as much at
tention, if not more, than the re-
sources Of the Western States. A
company was organized in Charles
ton recently, with paid in capital
or $764 900, to operate on Coal River.
The Elk river valley is to be opened
up to commence by the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad. A railroad is COM
ing down through the rich timber
and mineral lands on Coal river, and
short lines are being contemplated
on almost ever creek along the val
ley. A tract of land situated on Big
Coal river and the headwaters of
Cabin creek, containing Ia ,307 acres,
was purchased last week by George
j. Shork. of Wilkesbarre Lloyd w.
Williams, of Baltimore III. M. Bell,
of Stanton, Virginia, and others.
for 100000. The Cabin creek rail
road will be extended to these lapds,
which are known as the Pack lands,
For some weeks the agents ola St.
Louis firm have been canvassing
Lincoln county, selling a cooking
range. Strange to say, notwith-
standing thu ranges are sold for six
ty five dollars, numbers of them have
been disposed of, and not infrequent-
ly to persons in Strengthened circum-
stances and to those proverbial for
their "close fistedness," who all their
lives have cooked round an open fire
place, too stingey to spend few
dollars for cook stove. Now COM